My series answering the New York Times’ Ethicist column with an active, leadership approach instead of an analytical, philosophical perspective continues with “I’m Running for Re-Election. How Honest Do I Have to Be?”. I’m a local official in a small community. I am up for re-election after more than a decade in office. The cost of housing and homelessness are major issues in our area. I work hard to develop[…] Keep reading →

My series answering the New York Times’ Ethicist column with an active, leadership approach instead of an analytical, philosophical perspective continues with “Can I Contact the Grandkids I Discovered on a DNA Website?”. I recently found out that I am a grandfather, but I did not find out in the usual way. A few years ago I had my DNA tested using an ancestry website. Some time later, the website[…] Keep reading →

My series answering the New York Times’ Ethicist column with an active, leadership approach instead of an analytical, philosophical perspective continues with “Should I Speak Up About My Client’s Drinking Problem?”. I work in the architecture field as a designer, and I meet with clients in their homes and throughout the construction process to select materials and review designs. Over a period of months or even years, you become very[…] Keep reading →

My series answering the New York Times’ Ethicist column with an active, leadership approach instead of an analytical, philosophical perspective continues with “If Two People Claim a Lost Cat, Who Should Get It?”. Driving home late one night, I saw a cat run into the street and get hit by a car. I stopped and picked him up. He had no collar or tag. Our local emergency vet pronounced him[…] Keep reading →

My series answering the New York Times’ Ethicist column with an active, leadership approach instead of an analytical, philosophical perspective continues with “Should I Forgo Gay Sex to Donate Blood?”. Recently, I’ve become more curious about sex. I never had a relationship in high school and, out of nervousness, declined some opportunities in college. Later, I had two frightening nonconsensual, nonpenetrative encounters. When I sought help, I was advised that[…] Keep reading →

My series answering the New York Times’ Ethicist column with an active, leadership approach instead of an analytical, philosophical perspective continues with “How Can I Make My Partner’s Parents More Woke?”. My partner’s parents recently visited us in the relatively diverse area of the Northeast where I was raised and work. I am a first-generation Filipino-American. My partner’s parents grew up in the white suburbia of the Midwest. During their[…] Keep reading →

My series answering the New York Times’ Ethicist column with an active, leadership approach instead of an analytical, philosophical perspective continues with “Should I Tell My Siblings About Mom’s Affair?”. My mother died 18 years ago. Before she died, she told me about an affair of many years’ duration with a family friend. Learning about this made me re-evaluate my parents’ relationship and the decisions they made. My father is[…] Keep reading →